Windows to be free on 9” and smaller tablets, also on IoT devices

The "Internet of Things" will join the Microsoft ecosystem without paying.

Microsoft piled high the announcements during the Build day-one keynote. In addition to lots of Windows Phone 8.1 information and big infodumps about Windows 8.1, Microsoft also made it known that Windows 8.1 will be available for free—at least on certain devices.

Microsoft wants to ensure that it has a piece of the "Internet of Things" (IoT) pie, so Microsoft VP Terry Myerson announced that when Windows is available for IoT-type devices, it will be available for free.

Availability of the IoT version of Windows was not announced—nor were any additional specific details on what an IoT version of Windows might look like or how it might differ from a desktop or mobile version.

Additionally, Myerson announced that "Windows" will also be available for free on "phones and tablets with screen sizes less than nine inches." Myerson didn't say what version or type of Windows is covered under this new policy—whether it includes Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 RT, or both.

Both of these announcements, in Myerson's words, are intended to eliminate any friction between would-be Windows developers and any kind of platform they might want to develop on. The tablet pricing change is effective, in Myerson's words, as of "now." There's currently no word on when the IoT version of Windows will be released.

Lee Hutchinson
Lee is the Senior Technology Editor at Ars and oversees gadget, automotive, IT, and culture content. He also knows stuff about enterprise storage, security, and manned space flight. Lee is based in Houston, TX. Emaillee.hutchinson@arstechnica.com//Twitter@Lee_Ars

This seems to be heading towards not being idiots, no? They stand to gain a lot more in the long haul by getting everyone using Microsoft platform services. This is a major change from their traditional business model, but has the main benefit that they and Google are now competing on identical footing. (In fact, if they're genuinely charging $0, with few strings attached, they might be a dramatically more attractive offer.) At the same time, the desktop/Metro kluge on Windows 8 proper, however frustrating, may be exactly what they need to start getting their foot in the door at companies that cannot throw out their desktop apps yet, but would otherwise strongly benefit from touch.

Will it work? I'm not sure. But I think it improves things to put them back in the running, which is much better than they were before.

If you substitute "Insecurity" for "Internet", then 'IoT' gains a lot more meaning.

This isn't a knock just against Microsoft here, but did no one learn anything from the security crisis of XP* back in the day that delayed Longhorn/Vista? Do people really want their appliances and other semi-smart devices connected to a worldwide network where criminals probe around the clock for vulnerabilities?

What is it going to take to snap people out of this rush towards... what, I just don't get it.

Does this apply to Windows Phone as well?That would be quite the move on Microsoft's part.

Yes, mind you as Nokia is currently 92% of Windows Phone sales, most of the license fees for Windows Phone would be internally charged for.

Yes, and in addition Microsoft still wants to keep other Windows Phone partners as well. This puts them on an even ground with Microsoft. It also explains how Microsoft recently managed to lure in some of the very cost sensitive Chinese and Indian phone manufacturers and was also able to bring LG back; they were probably informed of this new policy in advance.

Good move, but I'd just as soon see Windows 8 for free to OEMs, period. Let MS make up their revenues via their marketplace (apps, videos, music, ads, etc).

Or, flip it, so its free only on higher end, better made devices with no crapware. I'm sick of the OEM/consumer "race to the bottom" for pricing at the expense of quality. Reward companies for not cutting corners and bloating out their computers. Maybe even engage in profit sharing so the OEM gets a portion of the marketplace purchases from their machines. Happy customers are long term customers, and thus a long term revenue stream.

edit: or do revenue sharing only for paid licensees willing to do "Microsoft Signature"-style clean computers.

I know you're joking, but, it's probably from exactly the same reasoning that supposedly created Android: "holy crap, if we're not careful, everything is going to be on a new platform that cuts us out of the picture entirely -- better get ahead of that just as insurance and worry about other details later".

I suppose that Fairsearch will fill a Complaint to European Commission On Microsoft’s Anti-Competitive Mobile Strategy.

And now, seriously, smart move by Microsoft

Would certainly be interesting to see, because then people would have to work out what a PC is and how to define it. Which would be hilarious and awesome and hilarious.

Since "tablets" are explicitly permitted, I'm betting we'll see a lot of "tablet docking stations" that have an awful lot in common with laptops that have no screen. (Microsoft: please just go ahead and add "netbooks" to your list.)

If you substitute "Insecurity" for "Internet", then 'IoT' gains a lot more meaning.

This isn't a knock just against Microsoft here, but did no one learn anything from the security crisis of XP* back in the day that delayed Longhorn/Vista? Do people really want their appliances and other semi-smart devices connected to a worldwide network where criminals probe around the clock for vulnerabilities?

What is it going to take to snap people out of this rush towards... what, I just don't get it.

I'm personally looking forward to getting a cherry trail tablet. As much as like my ipad I'm really getting tired of dealing with iTunes to transfer files. I also want to be able to plug in any USB device, whether a flash drive, external hdd, keyboard, etc and have it work without issue.

Quadrupled gpu power of bay trail, 4 gb of ram, probably even faster cpu, and hopefully minimum of 64 gb ssd... and of course an SD slot.

Does this apply to Windows Phone as well?That would be quite the move on Microsoft's part.

Yes, mind you as Nokia is currently 92% of Windows Phone sales, most of the license fees for Windows Phone would be internally charged for.

Key word is "currently." If I was an OEM that sold a lot of entry-level and midrange devices, this would make me think long and hard about switching from Android to WP8.1. I mean, isn't Android not truly free thanks to Microsoft patent license payments? If WP8.1 is cheaper for OEMs than Android and it runs smoothly on low-end hardware (as WP8 has done with the Lumia 5xx line), it'd be a great option for entry-level and midrange phones.

Microsoft is morphing the low-end aspects of 8.1 using Google's weapons in ways that Google can't fire back.

Google can't discount what is already free or virtually free and can only hope that they are able to continue living off their advertising cash cow. The downside is expanding and the upside may have already reached the top.

Microsoft is removing any financial obstacles to adopting Windows 8.1 where it is outsold by Apple and Google. Starting from the bottom there's no downside and the upside is expanding.

Edit: A year from now we'll know for sure if removing the financial impediments translates into a broader adoption. There will definitely be a surge in adoption. We'll have to wait and see the actual numbers.

Having worked on hardware appliances running Windows and running a Unix variants, if given a choice I would pick the *nix OS even if Windows costs $0 if I was designing an IoT device. Controlling Windows, historically has been more difficult. I wonder if they're going to make changes to make it easier (even though they've had an Embedded option) or there will be some other incentive in Azure, etc.

If I was an OEM that sold a lot of entry-level and midrange devices, this would make me think long and hard about switching from Android to WP8.1. I mean, isn't Android not truly free thanks to Microsoft patent license payments? If WP8.1 is cheaper for OEMs than Android and it runs smoothly on low-end hardware (as WP8 has done with the Lumia 5xx line), it'd be a great option for entry-level and midrange phones.

It wasn't until I read your comment that I understood what is going on...

I was originally thinking: How is it "free" if you are still paying Microsoft for patent licenses?".... and then I read this comment and realized that OEMs only pay Microsoft for patent licences if they are producing Android devices.